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| September 29, 2005 | Thursday | Sha'aban 24, 1426 |
Bail petition of British national rejected
PESHAWAR, Sept 28: An additional district and sessions judge on Wednesday rejected the bail petition of a British national, Zeeshan Siddiqui, suspected of having links with the July 7 London bombing suspects, in a case of relating to his illegal stay in Pakistan.
The court, which was presided over by Jamal Khan, observed that keeping in view the evidence on record the accused petitioner could not be extended the concession of bail.
“The offences falling under section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, are not bailable,” the court pronounced.
Mr Siddiqui was earlier declined bail in the same offence under section 14 of the Foreigners Act by a subordinate court on Sept 17.
Human rights activist Ms Mussarat Hilali appeared for the petitioner and contended that section 14 of the Foreigners Act was bailable. She contended that Mr Siddiqui had entered Pakistan on valid documents and visa and thus his entry was not illegal.
Ms Hilali argued that Mr Siddiqui lost his passport during his stay in Pakistan and it could be verified.
The Crimes Investigation Department (CID) had arrested Mr Siddiqui from Shabqadar in district Charssada and an FIR was registered against him on May 18 under section 419, 420, 468 and 471 of the Pakistan Penal Code, dealing with forgery and impersonation, read with section 14 of the Foreigners Act. He was charged with possessing a fake Pakistani identity card and illegal stay in Pakistan.
The state prosecutor argued that after insertion of Section 14A in the Foreigners Act in 2000 the offence was non-bailable.
He added that the court could order deportation of the accused but could not release him on bail.
Ms Hilali rebutted his contention and argued that Section 14A pertained to offences falling under section 14(2) dealing with the offence of illegal entry into Pakistan, whereas Mr Siddiqui had entered Pakistan in a legal manner. She contended that as his parents were Pakistani, therefore the only thing he needed was his registration here.
The intelligence agencies believed that he had met some of the militants involved in the July 7 suicide bombings before he was arrested in Shabqadar.
The prosecution claimed that after his arrest Mr Siddiqui introduced himself as Shehzad from Madina Colony, Hyderabad. Later on, it was ascertained that his identity was fake and, in fact, he was a British national possessing a fake Pakistani identity card carrying the name Zeeshan Siddiqui, son of Anis Siddiqui, present residence at Heston Town, Silver 2D Wolly, London.
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